Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Sunday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, has tendered his resignation. Abubakar, who was appointed to the position by former President Muhammadu Buhari seven years ago, tendered his resignation after meeting President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday.

2. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has commenced payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government. The governor initiated the payment of the new minimum wage for state workers, starting from August 2024, with a promise that local government workers will begin receiving the increased salary in September.

3. The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last governorship election in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka on Saturday decried the Friday’s attack on him by suspected hoodlums while he was exiting the Supreme Court. In a statement, Ajaka urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other relevant security agencies to investigate the vicious attack on him and his supporters by one Bashiru Gegu and his thugs.

4. The Imo State Police Command has arrested five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate responsible for terrorising residents in Obinze, Avu and environs, as well as abduction of a 26-year-old woman from her residence in Obinze in Owerri West local government area.

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5. Kogi State governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has debunked a media report that he is allegedly planning to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC. Ododo spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, in a statement in Lokoja. The Commissioner was reacting to a viral photo of the governor with counterparts elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

6. The Police said no ransom was paid to secure the release of the 20 medical students kidnapped in Benue. A statement by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “Contrary to some tweets and unconfirmed stories that some money was paid, no kobo was paid to release them. They were actually rescued tactically and professionally.”

7. In a crackdown on public indecency, the Lagos State government has arrested six individuals for openly urinating on the rail track in front of the Nigeria Army Shopping Complex, Arena, Oshodi. This was made known in a statement shared by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on X.com on Saturday.

8. Operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command, on Friday, arrested one female, Hauwa Sani for concealing 124 rounds of anti-craft ammunition in a gallon of palm oil, alongside a two-year-old child in the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel revealed this in a statement posted on X.com on Saturday.

9. Operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command have arrested some suspects in connection with the protest held in Sabon Birni, headquarters of Sabon Birni LGA, over the death of the abducted District Head, Isa Muhammad Bawa. The deputy public relations officer of the Command, ASP Isah Mohammed, made this known in a statement in Sokoto.

10. Igbo elders under the aegis of the United Igbo Elders Council, UNIEC, have demanded the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and all political prisoners. They also demanded an immediate end to all unlawful, hooded, night and secret arrests, detentions and extrajudicial killings in the country.